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mile-stone, on the Frederick turnpike—this school has since
been abandoned for the present, because proper school accom-
modation could not be had in the neighborhood. I;

Before establishing this school, the patrons had promised
to assist in building a school house, but it was never ac-
complished; hence the abandonment of the school for the
present.

Our Board had set apart $3,000 as a fund of relief to the
friends of education throughout the County, if they would
furnish an equal amount for building school houses where
most needed; but this offer on our part, has been accepted
only in one School District, near Poplar Springs, in Mr.
Burdett's District. To him, in a great degree, is due the
merit of conceiving the design of building the first school
house in this County under the new School System. This
house cost $1,112, of which amount |500 have been paid by
our Board; and we assume the payment of the half of the
whole cost, leaving $66 due by our Board. Too much credit
cannot be given to the patrons of this School District for
their landable zeal in the good cause of education.

The amount expended for repairs has not been very
large. Many of the school houses were scarcely worth re-
pairs. In my School District I have the best houses in the
County : Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 I found in pretty good con-
dition; but No. 4 and 7 were very ordinary. No. 4 is indeed
miserably cold in winter, and illy fitted for comfort, or
the promotion of the cause of education.

In my District I have had few repairs done, because I re-
garded it as money thrown away. I hope to see No. 4
moved, and a new house built, which I hope will be done as
soon as means are provided to enable the Board to rebuild
such as are needed.

In the second Commissioner's District, Nos. 1 and 2 are
poor apologies for school houses; Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
are only passable; more money has been expended on repairs
than was justified by the condition of the school property ;
but we could do no better, we had no building fund sufficient
for our need, and repairs had, to be made or the schools aban-
doned.

In the third Commissioner's District, Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 9
will do very well; No. 8 is the how school house near Poplar
Spring, and is a credit to the County; but Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6
and 7 are very poor contrivances, not one of which should
remain as it is if I could avoid it.

The financial condition of the schools as shown by the sta-
tistics, requires a remark in reference to the apparent small
balance of cash in hand at the close of the financial year, July
31st, 1866. Of the $7,000 levied in May 1865, for the use of the
schools, only $5,472 remained on the 31st of July of said
year, to be paid to our Board of Education, and of this
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